The National Research Center for Career and Technical Education announces the selection of North Dakota as the site of the pilot launch of Science-in-Career and Technical Education (CTE), a research project designed to parallel aspects of the successful Math-in-CTE curriculum integration model.
“North Dakota represents a great match for the pilot of Science-in-CTE because of their history with Math-in-CTE and the enthusiastic administrative support system already in place,” said center director James R. Stone III.
An implementer of the Math-in-CTE model for the past three years, North Dakota’s adoption of the Science-in-CTE integration model is supported by the state’s Department of Career and Technical Education, which will provide additional funding to support the teachers’ attendance.
“This model has been so successful and well received by teachers who have participated,” said Wayne Kutzer, North Dakota director of Career and Technical Education. “The impact this model has on enhancing academic concepts through traditional CTE courses has been impressive.”
“I am pleased that once again, North Dakota educators will have the opportunity to be leaders through their participation in the Science-in-CTE curriculum integration study,” said Wayne Sanstead, North Dakota superintendent of public instruction.
Approved by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, the funding agency for the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, the Science-in-CTE pilot project will focus on the effects of enhancing those components of the academic disciplines of chemistry and biology that are present in the agriculture curriculum.
"The Science-in-CTE study will employ an experimental design rarely used in educational research,” said R. Brent Young, assistant professor of agricultural education. “Agricultural education teachers in North Dakota are excited to be a part of this cutting-edge project." Young will serve as the North Dakota's project director. Teacher professional development for the project is expected to begin in the late fall of 2009.
The National Research Center for Career and Technical Education is the primary agent for generating scientifically based knowledge, dissemination, professional development, and technical assistance to improve career and technical education in the United States. The Office of Vocational and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education provides funding for the center. For more information, go to www.nrccte.org.